Wilson, Taft, and Edson among those with contested seats

Provided their candidacies are successful, a slate of local residents have been nominated for the next two-year term of service on area town boards, with the details provided by town clerks. With the election scheduled for this April 6, two-year town board terms will begin April 20 for those successful at the ballot box. First though, there were the nominations.

“We just leave that one blank, right?” Wilson town chairman Daniel Meyer sought confirmation from Clerk Danielle Barka Thursday January 21 regarding ‘Treasurer/Administrator Information’ on the Campaign Finance Registration Form that was among paperwork to be filled out when candidate nominations were over at Wilson, in seven minutes flat. “I don’t think anybody’s running a campaign,” he said.

With eight motor vehicles bringing fourteen masked residents to the Wilson Town Hall ,and six ballot names nominated for the five positions, official caucus nominations started at 7 p.m. on Thursday January 21, pursuant to notice and state law. Wayne Bonick led the call for candidates at the caucus.

“King for the night,” Wayne Bonick said of his roll in the proceedings when it was over, as Clerk Danielle Barka stayed on throughout to take notes. Candidates were not allowed to nominate themselves for any post and needed two separate nominations by their fellow citizens to make the ballot, provided they completed the paperwork following, that is—four bureaucratic forms to be exact. First came the nominations for Wilson Town Treasurer.

“I nominate Tammy Haas,” someone said of the incumbent treasurer for Wilson township. “I second it,” another said. Next up was the Clerk, with incumbent Danielle Barka’s name being put forward, then seconded. Bonick took his role as announcer to give the final call.

“Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations?” he asked three times to crowd silence.

With both Haas and Clerk Danielle Barka running unopposed on the ballot this spring, it was on to the town chairman. Nothing too surprising—Daniel Meyer renominated as the incumbent, followed by incumbent Ed Shilts as First Supervisor—but then there was a break.

“I nominate Dusty Bergman,” the call went forth for Second Supervisor, being duly seconded in turn, a second necessary to qualify. With current Second Supervisor Aaron Vizier also being nominated for the post of Second Supervisor, there are two candidates for one position in Wilson—in short, both cannot win, presuming Bergman accepts his nomination, that is. It did not appear that Bergman was present, though it was said he would get the notice.

See CAUCUS, Page 10

Wayne Bonick (left) led the Wilson township caucus on Thursday January 21 as board members and residents met to decide just who would might be on the ballot this April. The town of Wilson was created as a separate unit during Woodrow Wilson’s presidency. Staff photo. CAUCUS

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With candidate nominations closed at the seven-minute mark, it was on into paperwork. In normal times, candidates would be mailed notice of their nomination and have a five-day window to respond, but with most candidates present and “the mail being what it is,” (according to one Wilson resident), it was better for candidates to fill out their paperwork that night. With four levels of bureaucratic tape to wade through, the order was as follows: Certification by the town clerk with mailing of the declaration of candidacy and campaign finance registration forms, and a ‘receipt of notice of nomination’ signed by the nominee, to be returned within five days of receipt of written notification and filed with the town clerk by 5 p.m. on said day. Small talk continued as the forms were filled out from behind masks. With all that being said, here’s the rundown listing of candidate nominations for each of the local townships, as provided by the clerks: In the Town of Thorp it’s the same familiar names, a nominated resident named Dave Potaczek nominated by Jack Leja deciding not to run, and Leja rescinding his earlier decision of non-candidacy. With the caucus held January 9, these are the names for Thorp Town Board candidates.

In the chairman’s post the ballot will have incumbent Louis Andruszkiewicz, while for Treasurer Rita Derks will be in need of votes, and Arlene Kodl will stand for clerk. As to supervisors the names to know are Andy Slowiak and Jack Leja. To the north of Thorp in Taft the candidates are as follows, with two uncontested races first.

In the first place, chairman Darrell Thompson, Treasurer Lana Knox and Clerk Lori Czubakowski will all stand for reelection unopposed, while the same cannot be said for supervisor posts. Specificially, Kevin Knox is running against incumbent Del Kroeplin, while for Second Supervisor Melvin Lorenz is running against Jerry Czubakowski.

Shifting from Taft to Colburn, the candidates are unchanged, with Chairman Brad Hompe, Treasurer Dana Hartzell, Clerk Kathy Yeager, and Supervisors Kiel Morello and Steve Sime reprising their roles on the ballot, no one being nominated for “Constable,” effectively the roads man in modern parlance. The Colburn caucus was presided over by Ken Mahalko, with at least three other town residents in attendance who aren’t current board members.

Shifting south to Delmar, the story is much the same, in that the incumbents are once again on the ballot. As a refresher, the Chairman is Dave Peterson, Clerk Julie Krcma- Perterson, Treasurer Debbie Haas; with Supervisors being Brent Milas and Sue Shakal. Eugene Ebert filling the ballot position for constable, and also the incumbent. Going further south to Edson (from which Delmar was split off many years ago), the candidates will be much the same, with some challengers in the mix. In the first place, the chairmanship is being contested between Don Schesel and Gary Steinmetz, while the Second Supervisor seat is being contested by Lori Klonowski-Cooley, with Michael Sande running as the incumbent. As to the clerkship Marie Wilbur is running for re-election, as is Kim Nelson for treasurer. George Wellner will seek reelection as first town supervisor, adn Joe D. Gilles, will be on the ballot for constable.

AttemptstoreachWordenforacandidatelistingwerenotsuccessful asofpresstimeTuesday.BeforelongitwasbacktoWilson,andthe “We’re pretty much done,” a town official said at teh seven minute mark after nominations were completed. While politics was over, people stayed behind to fill out paperwork and shoot the breeze, with a mask on that is. You can’t get into the town hall without one., constitutional federal republic or otherwise.

Provided that all relevant paperwork is satisfied in time to appear on the ballot per election laws, it is the hope of this newspaper to provide local candidates a future opportunity to state their views and details in a few short words, for the voters, somewhat closer to the election. There’s plenty to cover in the meantime.